Oregon ballots might include party abbreviations, like DEM and REP, but also PRO, CON and LBT

Jamie Francis/The OregonianOregon ballots would be allowed to list acronyms for political parties, rather than spell them out, under a proposed amendment to a bill before the Oregon Legislature.

SALEM -- Political pop quiz time: What are PRO CON LBT PGP and WFP?

Answer: How some of Oregon's minor political parties could be listed on future ballots.

A bill under consideration at the Legislature would permit counties to use three-letter party abbreviations next to candidates. County clerks want the option to avoid having to mail out multiple-page ballots.

But minor party advocates say it's a thinly concealed attempt to confuse voters and prop up the two major parties -- that would the more recognizable DEMs and REPs.

"What is an LBT?" asked Dan Meek, who is a registered IND, (Independent Party). "Some kind of sandwich? And what about PGP? It sounds like some kind of street drug."

Actually, he's talking about the Libertarian Party and the Pacific Green Party, and what their three-letter acronyms look like. The others would be the Progressive, Constitution and Working Families parties.

Clerks sought the use of party acronyms after the Legislature approved what's known as "fusion light" voting -- meaning candidates could list as many as three party affiliations on the ballot. The secretary of state allowed the abbreviations in 2010, prompting a lawsuit that is still in a Marion County court.

The amendment allowing three-letter abbreviations was offered for House Bill 4173, an election housekeeping bill. The House Rules committee took no action but is expected to discuss the bill further on Thursday.

"It's just one of those things we can do to help save space on an already crowded ballot," Multnomah County Elections Director Tim Scott told the House Rules Committee. Meek saw it differently.